Apple, Time-Warner in talks over new Apple TV device-report

Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Apple Inc is intalks with Time Warner Cable and other content partnersfor a faster TV set-top box with a new user-interface that couldbe revealed as soon as April, Bloomberg cited sources familiarwith the matter as saying.

The iPhone maker, whose $99 Apple TV box competes withsimilar streaming devices from Roku and Google Inc, intends tohave its new device in stores in time for the Christmasholidays, Bloomberg cited the anonymous sources as saying.

A tie-up with Time Warner Cable would be the first with apay-TV operator, Bloomberg reported. Apple spokesman Tom Neumayrdeclined to comment. Time Warner Cable also declined comment.

Apple, which in the past has referred to its set-top boxproduct as a hobby, regularly discusses partnerships withcontent companies. But the company has recently given theproduct, which plugs into a TV and streams videos from Netflixand other content providers, more prominent placement on itsonline storefront.

Speculation persists that the company is developing somesort of major TV product to disrupt the traditional cableindustry, but that has yet to materialize.